Scan barcode
A review by miszjeanie
Soy Sauce for Beginners by Kirstin Chen
4.0
This was a fantastic introduction to the work of Kirstin Chen especially as I await her second novel. Gretchen, thirty and separated from her husband after he cheats on her with an undergrad student, moves back home to Singapore. Her family is in the soy sauce manufacturing business and she attempts to join the family business while in Singapore. However, as it is with family, there’s a good amount of drama which mixed in with her personal drama is enough to incite a near midlife crisis.
I really enjoyed learning about soy sauce in a completely not boring manner. Also, as happens with stories about Asian families, I’ve also learned a little about the customs and way of life. Singapore has effectively been added to my “to-visit” list! More than that, Chen writes beautifully about the struggle to find one’s place in the world, identity and the balance between these and pleasing parents.
Soy Sauce for Beginners is packed with drama, astute observations about life and a fascinating bunch of characters. It makes for a great page turner!
I really enjoyed learning about soy sauce in a completely not boring manner. Also, as happens with stories about Asian families, I’ve also learned a little about the customs and way of life. Singapore has effectively been added to my “to-visit” list! More than that, Chen writes beautifully about the struggle to find one’s place in the world, identity and the balance between these and pleasing parents.
Soy Sauce for Beginners is packed with drama, astute observations about life and a fascinating bunch of characters. It makes for a great page turner!